Matches for "Pascal Berube"

On a beautiful autumn Sunday afternoon, the Hippodrome 3R hosted its richest harness racing program of the 2014 harness racing season with the $425,000 finals of the Quebec-Bred Series for two and three-year-old trotters and pacers.
There were seven championship finals on the wagering card.
It did not take long for the first track record to be rewritten on the racing card as Meganou got the job done in the very first race, the $55,000 final for two-year-old trotters.
Driven by Jocelyn Gendron, Meganou left from three and never looked back. The daughter of Kadabra held the field at bay the entire one mile race, leading by four to five lengths at all times. She cut fractions of :30, 1:00.2, 1:31 and coasted home to win by three and one-half lengths in 2:01.1. Intouchable (Simon Allard) was second with Notrouble Dechafra (Stehane Brosseau) third.
It was the third straight win and third straight track record performance for Meganou. Only this week Meganou became the fastest two-year-old trotter regardless of gender in the history of the Hippodrome 3R with her 2:01.1 clocking.
The mile rewrote her record for fillies that she set last week of 2:02 and surpassed the trotting colt record of 2:01.3 set by Jobie Tempest more than 21 years ago in 1993.
Trained by Daniel Martin and owned by Jean Picard of Orford, QC, it was the fourth win this year for Meganou, who paid $3.00 to win.
In the second race $65,000 final for three-year-old trotting fillies, track record holder Viva Bayama and trainer/driver Yves Filion waited patiently in fourth place as Kim Sorel (Martin Gingras) cut early fractions of :28.4 and :58.3.
Once the field entered the backstretch the second time, Filion made his move first-over with Viva Bayama and the Muscle Mass filly blew past the leaders by the three-quarters in 1:29.1 and won with ease by five open lengths in 2:00.3. Bambie Benjo (Rheo Filion) was second with Lucyll Bro (Stephane Gendron) third.
Owned and bred by Filion’s Bayama Farms, Inc. of Saint-Andre D’Argenteul, QC, Viva Bayama scored her fourth win this year and paid $3.10 to win.
Yves Filion did not waste any time coming back to the winner’s circle as he won the very next race, the $55,000 final for two-year-old pacing colts with Western Bayama in a lifetime best clocking of 1:58.
Mr Sunshine Boy (Pascal Berube) was first on the lead with Half A Billion (Stephane Gendron) sitting on their backs to the opening quarter mile in a speedy :27.4.
Gendron then came right out and took over the lead by the half mile in :58.1 as the action really heated up with Clinton Panic (Gilles Gendron) coming first-over and race favorite, track record holder Sugarsam (Denis St Pierre) second-over.
Pierre then came three-wide around Clinton Panic) and by the three-quarters in 1:28 had closed the gap on Half A Billion but that was when Yves Filion and Western Bayama came into the picture and was three-wide around the final turn.
Coming down the stretch, Filion was able to urge Western Bayama on to victory by one and one-half lengths with Half A Billion third and Sugarsam third.
Also owned and bred by Bayama Farms, it was just the second win in five lifetime starts for Western Bayama, a son of Lis Mara who paid $6.50 to win.
The only two-time Quebec-Bred Series was crowded at 3R today as Maximuscle had little trouble for driver Mario Charron in beating six rivals in the fourth race $65,000 final for three-year-old trotting colts.
Clearing to the lead before the opening quarter mile in :29, Charron and Maximuscle were in easy command until after the half mile and then Charron asked for a little more from Maximuscle and the son of Angus Hall responded by kicking in another gear and leaving the rest of the field behind.
By the time they reached the top of the stretch Maximuscle was up by five lengths and went on to win in a romp by nine and one-half lengths in 1:59.2. Andovers Touch (Stephane Brosseau) was second with Somoli E (Jerome Lombart) third.
Trained by Eric Valiquette, Maximuscle was bred and is owned by Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, QC and posted his seventh win in ten starts this year, paying $2.80 to win.
Native son Daniel Dube, of the top driver in all of harness racing, came back to 3R to compete in the championship program and he did not go home empty handed in the $55,000 final for two-year-old trotting fillies.
Driving the 1/5 favorite My Fleet Three from post two, Dube sent the daughter of Mach Three right to the lead and never looked back, cutting fractions of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:28 and then cruising home to win by two and one-half lengths in 1:57.1. The pocket sitting First Girl (Stephane Gendron) was second with Voodoo Charm (Yves Filion) third.
The time of the race was a new track record for filly pacers as My Fleet Three erased her own mark set last week of 1:57.4.
Trained by Richard Moreau for breeder/owner Gestion Mario Audet, Inc. of Yves Sarrazin, QC, it was the second win in five lifetime starts for My Fleet Three. She paid $2.60 to win.
The 1/5 wagering favorite, Champagne Shower (Denis St Pierre) were unable to maintain their lead at the top of the stretch as Chaleurs Fantasy and driver Stephane Gendron were able to sneak up along the rail and post a 9-1 upset victory in the $65,000 final for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Thrill Chaser (Marie Auger), who followed pacesetter Champagne Shower but elected to go to the outside in the stretch, was second with Champagne Shower fading to third place.
For Chaleurs Fantasy, a daughter of Omar Khayam, the time of the race, 1:58, was a lifetime mark and the sixth win this year for the Carl Duguay trainee. She won by one and one-quarter lengths for breeder/owner Elevage Baie Des Chaleurs of Port-Daniel, QC. She paid $21.60 to win.
The Hippodrome 3R scheduled the fastest division as the last one as the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings battled it out for $65,000.
It was not so much as a battle as it looked to be as Atomic Million AM was made the 2/5 favorite and raced just like it for driver Sylvain Lacalle. The gelded son of Million Dollar Cam took the early lead away from rival Hall Bro (Stephane Brosseau) by the opening quarter mile in :27 and then cut fractions of :56 and 1:25.2 before hold off Hall Bro in the stretch to win by one length in 1:54. Bali (Marie Auger) finished third.
It was the 9th win in 15 starts this year for Atomic Million AM. He is trained, bred and owned by Alan Martin of Gatineau, QC and paid $2.80 to win.
The Hippodrome 3R has completed its Tuesday night race schedule this season and is now open just on Sunday’s. There will be one special Saturday night program on September 20, the eve of the Prix D’Ete Sunday with a 7:30 pm post time that Saturday night.
For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

Once again two fields of two-year-old trotting fillies will take their best shot at one of the oldest track records still left at the Hippodrome 3R as the second round of the $300,000 Quebec-Bred Series takes place Sunday afternoon.
With sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80’s (27 Celsius) for Sunday, the 1993 record of 2:04.3 set by SOS Preference could fall by the wayside.
The first $7,500 preliminary round takes place in the third race and another SOS bred horse, SOS Harddrive, could rewrite the record books. She is a return winner from last week’s opening round in the series.
The daughter of Taurus Dream won her maiden start after four qualifying efforts, wiring the field in 2:06.4. But she showed a smart :30.1 last quarter mile and any improvement off that effort could rewrite the record. She starts from post two for driver Pascal Berube.
The fourth race second filly trot division features the most likely candidate to break the track record. Meganou starts from post three for driver Jocelyn Gendron and last week she won her qualifying race at the Hippodrome 3R in 2:04.4, just one fifth of a second from the tying the track mark.
Sired by Kadabra, Meganou already had a record of 2:01 at Mohawk Raceway and two starts back was race timed in 1:58.3 at Georgian Downs in the Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots with a fifth place finish.
The oldest track record on the books at the Hippodrome 3R is for two-year-old pacing fillies and is 1:58.2 set by Caressa way back in 1990. That mark could also be in jeopardy on Sunday.
There is one division of the Quebec-bred series for filly pacers and is race two on the program. It features a good match-up between last week’s return winners, Kinnder Elegance and Anna Santanna.
Kinnder Elegance starts from post seven for driver Denis St Pierre. Last week the daughter of Allamerican Native scored her maiden victory by wiring the field in 2:00.3 by two and one-quarter lengths from post five. Earlier this season she won a qualifying race at Rideau Carlton in 1:58.4.
Anna Santanna is the 5/2 morning line favorite despite having to start from the far outside in post eight for owner/trainer/driver Maire Auger. This filly by Santanna Blue Chip has yet to finish worse than third in her four career starts and last week won for the first time in 200.4 and showed a sharp :28.4 last quarter mile in her victory.
The final preliminary round takes place in the fifth race and is for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Headlining the field is the entry from the Yves Filion Stable of Western Bayama and Grand Galop Semalu.
Western Bayama showed he is in prime form last week in the opening round of the series by coming from off the pace to win in 1:59 by two open lengths with Filion in the bike.
The homebred son of Lis Mara starts from post four and will be driven for the first time by Gilles Gendron.
Yves Filion has elected to drive Grand Galop Semalu and they start from post six. This son of Rock N Roll Heaven has been battling the best on the Ontario Sire Stakes circuit and two starts back was race-timed at Mohawk Raceway in 1:55 with a final quarter mile in :27.3.
Due to a lack of entries, there is no preliminary round this week for two-year-old trotting colts.
There will be one more week of preliminary rounds in the Quebec-Bred Series for freshman trotters and pacers and then the top eight point earners will return on Sunday, September 7 for the $55,000 finales.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

Long shots seemed to be the rule of the day at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday afternoon for the opening round of the Quebec-Bred Series for two-year-old trotters and pacers.
The series features three weeks of preliminary rounds of competition with each division racing for a purse of $7,500. The top eight point earners after the preliminary rounds will return for the $55,000 finals in each class on Sunday, September 7. Also on that day will be the $65,000 finals for the three-year-olds.
Mother Nature did not cooperate Sunday as intermittent rain storms gave way to sunshine sporadically throughout the racing card.
The two-year-old trotting fillies provided long shot winners in both their divisions.
The first race saw SOS Harddrive and driver Pascal Berube take no prisoners as they led from start to finish by one length in 2:06.4. The daughter of Tarus Dream is undefeated in three starts and her clocking was a lifetime mark for trainer Jean Teller and owner/breeder Les Ecuries SOS Bedford, Inc. of Stanbridge Station, QC. Notrouble Dechafra (Stephane Brosseau) was second with C L Magic Road (Marie Auger) third.
Overlooked by the betting public, SOS Harddrive went off at odds of 11-1 and paid $24.10 to win.
The fifth race second division was captured by 13-1 Chamane and driver Marie Auger with an impressive three-wide move on the final turn and then out trotted the field home to win by one and one-half lengths in 2:08.3.
D Espoir (Stephane Brosseau) was the race favorite and raced that way, going right to the early lead with Sunrise Linda (Yves Filion) sitting the pocket trip. Double Chance (Serge Nadeau) came first-over at the half mile marker and that gave Chamane perfect second-over cover to tip three-wide from after the three-quarters en route to her maiden victory.
Sired by Majestic Son, Chamane is trained by Eric Valiquete for owner/breeder Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, QC. She paid $29.60 to win.
The third long shot winner in the series came in the third race, the first division for two-year-old pacing colts. Western Bayama and trainer/driver Yves Filion sat in fourth place throughout the mile as HO Bushido Dragjet (Stephane Brosseau) cut the mile and Classic Breeze (Pascal Berube) sat the pocket trip.
Then as the field came around the final turn, Filion made his move with Western Bayama and the son of Lis Mara came on with a burst of speed to win by one length over late closing T S Joe (Jocelyn Gendron) with HP Bushido Dragjet third.
The time of the race was a lifetime mark of 1:59 in just the second career start for Western Bayama, who was bred and is owned by Filion’s Bayama Farms. Sent off at odds of 10-1, he paid $22.90 to win.
The sixth race second colt division saw race favorite Clinton Panic and driver/trainer Yves Filion make it a driver/trainer double on the day as they were able to led from start to finish with a one length triumph in 2:03.1 in a driving rain storm.
Mr. Sunshine Boy (Pascal Berube) inherited the pocket-trip when Rocky Beach (Marie Auger) tried a first-over move in vain at the half mile marker as Mr. Sunshine Boy finished second with Rocky Beach third.
It was the maiden win in two starts for Clinton Panic, a son of Major In Art, who paid $9.90 to win. He was bred and is owned by Brian Paquet of Quebec, QC.
The two-year-old pacing fillies competed in the second and fourth races. The first division saw Kinnder Elegance and driver Jocelyn Gendron hold the field at bay as the daughter of Allamerican Native led by three to four lengths the entire mile, winning by two and one-quarter lengths in 2:00.3.
The pocket-sitting Voodoo Charm (Yves Filion) was second with Godiva Bella Oya (Mario Charron) third. It was the first pari-mutuel victory for Kinnder Elegance, who paid $2.30 to win for owner/breeder Dentiza Petrova of Les Cedres, QC.
After trading the early lead control with Miss Bro, Anna Santanna and driver Marie Auger stayed in command after the opening quarter mile and won with ease by two and three-quarter lengths in 2:00.4. Miss Bro (Stephane Brosseau) was second with HP Rubis Joyce (Mario Charron) third.
Sired by Santanna Blue Chip, it was the maiden victory after four starts for Anna Santanna, who paid $3.90 to win. She is trained and owned by Marie Auger of Trois-Rivieres, QC.
Live racing resumes Tuesday evening with first race post time at 7:00 pm. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

The Hippodrome 3R will have a special Sunday night race program this weekend in honor of Civic Holiday on Monday. The 7:00 pm first post harness racing card will be highlighted by the final preliminary round of the $400,000 Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old trotters and pacers.
After Sunday’s fourth round of eliminations, the top eight point earners will return next month on September 7 for the $65,000 finals in each of the four divisions for colts and fillies.
This Sunday there is just one division in each category and the action gets underway in the very first race for filly trotters.
Returning after a week’s rest is Viva Bayama for trainer/driver Yves Filion. The daughter of Muscle Mass won the first two legs of the series and will start from post three. She was bred and is owned by the Filion’s Bayama Farms of Quebec.
Other contenders looking to secure a spot in the final is Lucyll Bro, who won last week’s third round leading from start to finish by four open lengths for driver Stephane Gendron; Bambie Benjo and Éclair Lavec.
The fastest of the four divisions will come in the eight race for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Featured will be Hall Bro from the rail. Hall Bro is the only horse in the entire series that has a chance to make a clean sweep in the series. The gelded son of Blissfull Hall has won all three of his preliminary rounds, two of them by a narrow head and neck over rival Jefferson Tare.
Jefferson Tare will have it tough in this fourth round as he drew post ten, which makes him start in the second tier for driver Pascal Berube. Another major contender is Atomic Million AM and driver Sylvain Lacalle in post five. They have two wins in the series, including the fastest mile in the series so far, a 1:53.1 triumph that was just two fifths of a second off of the track record for sophomore pacers.
In the fifth race filly pace division, Champagne Shower heads the field from post four for driver Denis St Pierre. This daughter of Santana Blue Chip has been razor sharp for trainer Helene Fillion and has won her last three starts and figures to again lead from start to finish. She goes against prior series leg winners My American Tallia (post 8),C L Infinite (post 5) and the consistent Night Fall (post 7), who has finished second in five of her last seven starts.
The three-year-old trotting colts and geldings will be featured in the seventh race with a full field of ten starters. Four of the starters have won at least one leg of the series so far.
Maximuscle returns after being a sick scratch and starts from post two for driver Mario Charron. In his last start he led from start to finish and was last year’s Sire Stakes champion in his division. Somoli E starts from post nine in the second tier and has won two of his three starts in the series.
Also in the second tier is Andovers Touch in post eleven. He made a costly break and was last in last week’s race, but prior to that had been first or second in his last six starts. Monster Mass is another good contender, winning in his last start and finishing first, second or third in his last six starts.
After this Sunday’s special holiday night program, racing will return to Sunday afternoon’s with first race post time at 1:00 pm.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

Hall Bro continued his domination of the $400,000 Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-olds, posting his third straight victory in the series Sunday afternoon at the Hippodrome 3R.
The gelded son of Blissful Hall is the only horse left in the series that could make it a clean sweep of all four preliminary rounds and then the $65,000 finals on Sunday, September 7. He has just one more elimination round to win and then the final.
Starting from the rail in the seventh race second division for pacing colts and geldings, driver Stephane Brosseau was content to leave at the start of the race and get a two-hole trip behind pacesetter My Lucky Bluejeans (Denis St Pierre).
Hall Bro followed My Lucky Bluejeans through fractions of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:25.2 before coming on the attack, collaring My Lucky Bluejeans in late stretch and blowing by him for a one and one-quarter length triumph in 1:56. My Lucky Bluejeans held for second place with Bali (Marie Auger) third.
It was the fifth win in ten starts this year for Hall Bro. He is trained by Antonio Valente for owner/breeder Fernard Broduer of Laval, QC and paid a generous $3.40 to win as the betting favorite.
The first race, first division for colt pacers saw Jefferson Tare (Pascal Berube) return to his winning ways after two straight photo finish losses to Hall Bro. Jefferson Tare ($3.00) led from start to finish for his seventh win in ten starts this year in 1:57.1. The pocket-sitting D Gs Machbeach (Denis St Pierre) was second with Bad Magic (Mario Charron) third.
The closest finish in the series took place in the 6th race division for trotting colts for a purse of $8,250 with nine starters in the field. Monster Mass, who raced along the rail in fifth place nearly the entire mile, was able to weave his way through the field at the top of the stretch for driver Claude Larose and post a head triumph in 2:03.3 at odds of 11-1.
Helping the situation was that four of the nine starters made breaks, enabling Larose and Monster Mass access to mount their attack in defeating Jardinier (Marie Auger) in the photo. Pacetter Somoli E (Jerome Lombart) was third. It was the fourth win on the year for the son of Muscle Mass and his first victory in the series. He paid $24.10 to win.
Another long shot prevailed in the second race first $7,500 division for three-year-old pacing fillies as Thrill Chaser, who was saddled with having to start from the far outside in post position eight, made a superb three-wide move in the backstretch for driver Marie Auger, collared race leader Canaco Xenia (Sylvain Lacalle) at the top of the stretch and then blew the field away in the stretch to win by four and one-half lengths.
Sent off at odds of 13-1, Thrill Chaser certainly lived up to her name, paying $28.80 to win and scoring a lifetime mark of 1:59.4 for Auger, who also owns and trains the daughter of Rambaran. Delirium (Stephane Gendron) was second with C L Infinite (David Pilon) finished third.
The ninth race second filly division saw an oddity of sorts as the race favorite and pacesetter Champagne Shower (Denis St Pierre) took the field to the opening quarter mile in :28, they then cut perfect :30 seconds fractions the rest of the one mile race of :58 and 1:28 to finish the mile in 1:58 and winning in a romp by eight open lengths.
Raiponce (Marie Auger) sat the pocket trip to be second with Tango Bayama (Rheo Filion) third. It was the third win this year for the daughter of Santana Blue Chip, who is trained by Helene Fillion for owner/breeder Sotirious Anastaopoulos of QC. Champagne Shower paid $2.80 to win.
The third race filly trot division saw Lucyll Bro ($5.60) and driver Stephane Gendron lead from start to finish by four open lengths in 2:07.1. Bambie Benjo (Rheo Filion) sat the two-hole trip and finished second with Victoria D Morgan (Marie Auger) third.
It was the maiden victory for Lucyll Bro, a daughter of Federal Fleet. She is trained and owned by Marc Lemay of Quebec, QC.
Live racing resumes Tuesday evening at the Hippodrome 3R with first race post time at 7:00 pm. For more information contact www.quebecjockeyclub.com. '
From the Quebec Jockey Club

With ideal weather and stakes competition, there were plenty of fast mile and hotly competitive racing at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday afternoon for the second preliminary round of the $400,000 Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old pacers and trotters.
The series features four preliminary rounds of competition, each division going for a purse of $7,500 with the top eight point earners returning on Sunday, September 7 for the $65,000 finals in each of the four divisions for colts and fillies.
The colts were the main stars on Sunday with the fastest mile of the day coming in the second race, the first division for three-year-old pacers. That’s when Atomic Million Am and driver Sylvain Lacalle, after enjoying a two-hole trip behind pacesetter My Lucky Bluejeans through quarters of :27, :55 and 1:23.2, popped the pocket at the three-quarters and went on to win by one length in 1:53.1.
Bali (Marie Claude Auger) was second with My Lucky Bluejeans (Denis St Pierre) third.
It was the third straight win and eighth victory in ten starts for Atomic Million AM. The gelded son of Million Dollar Cam, trained, owned and bred by Alan Martin of Gatineau, QC, just missed tying the track record for colt pacers by two fifths of a second.
It was a case of switching tactics with the same results in the fourth race second colt pacer division.
This week it was Jefferson Tare and driver Pascal Berube who cut the mile with Hall Bro (Stephan Brosseau) taking the two-hole trip through the first quarter in :27.1, the half in :56.4 and that was when Brosseau took Hall Bro first over to press the pace to the three-quarters in 1:25.4. DJ Power (Stephane Gendron had come first-over and then ducked into the two-hole spot.
As they started down the stretch, Jefferson Tare dug in and was able to hold off DJ Power but could not keep Hall Bro from scoring a head triumph in 1:54.3.
It was the second straight win and fourth victory this year for Hall Bro. The gelded son of Blissful Hall is trained by Antonio Valente for breeder/owner Fernand Brodeur of Laval, QC. He paid $7.40 to win despite being the betting favorite last week.
In the lone three-year-old trotting filly division, Viva Bayama and driver/trainer Yves Filion made it two straight in the series with an impressive 2:04 victory. The daughter of Muscle Mass, bred and owned by the Filion’s Bayama Farms Inc. of Quebec, moved to the lead after the opening quarter mile and held off a game first-over Bambie Benjo (Rheo Filion) to win by one length. The pocket-sitting Lucyll Bro was third.
It was the second win in four starts for Viva Bayama and a lifetime mark. She paid $2.90 to win.
The trotting colts were featured in two divisions with Maximuscle and driver Mario Charron having little trouble leading from start to finish in 2:02 to win by one length over the pocket-sitting Andovers Touch (Stephane Brosseau) with SOS Gasland (Pascal Berube) third.
It was the fourth win in six starts this year for Maximuscle, a son of Angus Hall who is trained by Eric Valiquette for owner/breeder Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, QC. He paid $3.00 to win.
The second division for colt trotters saw Bouffon P V and driver/trainer Yves St Jacques shoot out to the early lead and sting the 3/5 race favorite, Somoli E and owner/driver Jerome Lombart to the opening quarter mile in :29.1. Once on top, Somoli E was then challenged first-over by Monster Mass (Claude Larose, but Somoli E was up to the task and by the finish wire he won by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:02.1.
Monster Mass was second with Horatio Drummond (Richard Velleux) third.
Sired by Mr Lavec, it was the second straight win and fourth of the season of Somoli E, who paid $3.30 to win.
There were three divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies. The first division saw Champagne Shower and driver Denis St Pierre lead from gate to wire with ease in 1:57.3 by three and one-half lengths over Raiponce (Marie Claude Auger) and Astro Maggs (Denis Audet).
It was the daughter of Santana Blue Chip’s second win this year for trainer Helen Filion. She paid $3.20 to win for owner Sotirios Anastasopoulos of Sainte-Therese, QC.
The second division saw My American Tallia and driver Stephane Gendron take the lead away from Night Fall (Sylvain Lacalle) at the opening quarter mile and then lead the rest of the mile race, drawing away in the stretch to win by three and one-half lengths in 1:58.2. Night Fall was second with Bemmol Kalie (Melanie Plourde) third.
Delirium and driver Stephane Gendron posted the fastest of the filly divisions in the ninth race, scoring by two and one-half lengths in 1:57.1 over Tango Bayama (Rheo Filion) with pacesetter Canaco Xenia (Sylvain Lacalle) third.
Delirium benefited from a two-hole trip behind Canaco Xenia until the three-quarters when they came first-over, collared the leader on the final turn and then pulled away in the stretch. It was the second win this year for the daughter of Artistic Fella. Delirium paid just $2.20 to win as the overwhelming 1/5 betting favorite. She is owned and was bred by the Hudson Standardbred Stable of Hudson, QC.
Live racing resumes Tuesday evening as the Hippodrome 3R with first race post time at 7:00 pm. For more information go to www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

There was certainly no lack of excitement at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday for the start of the $400,000 Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old trotters and pacers. The action was fast and furious despite earlier rains that labeled the track in “good” condition.
The series features four weeks of preliminary rounds for both colts and fillies in each class and then on Sunday, August 7 will be the $65,000 finals for each of the four divisions.
The fastest action took place in both $7,500 opening round divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings as Jefferson Tare saw his six-race winning streak come to a close at the hands of Hall Bro.
After leaving and grabbing the early lead by the opening quarter mile in :27.4 despite the “off track” conditions, Jefferson Tare and driver Pascal Berube took command, but it was short lived as Stephane Brosseau came right back with the 4/5 race favorite Hall Bro.
Those two held the field at bay as they sped past the half mile marker in :58.2. That was when Eveil Dun Champion (Mario Charron) came first-over to challenge to no avail. Then after the three-quarters in 1:28.4, Berube came back out with Jefferson Tare and in the stretch tried his best but could not collar Hall Bro until after the wire in 1:58, losing by a slim neck. Bad Magic (David Pilon) was third.
It was the third win this year for Hall Bro, a gelded son of Blissful Hall, who is trained by Antonio Valente and was bred and is owned by Ferme Brodeur. Hall Bro paid $3.80 to win.
The first division was the fastest mile of the day as Atomic Million AM and driver Sylvain Lacalle, despite making a break at the start of the race, came back to take command after the opening quarter mile and wired the field winning by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:57.1.
No one was really able to challenge Atomic Million Am as My Lucky Bluejeans (Denis St Pierre) was second with Bali (Marie Claude Auger) third. Sired by Million Dollar Cam, it was the seventh win in nine starts this year for Hall Bro, who was bred and is owned and trained by Alan Martin of Gatineau, QC. He paid $2.40 to win.
In the first division for trotting colts and geldings, Maximuscle saw his three-race winning streak come to a close as he could only manage a third place finish. The race was won by Somoli E and owner/driver Jerome Lombart and they led from start to finish and barely held off a super game first-over effort by Andovers Touch (Stephane Brosseau) to win by a nose in 2:02.4.
It was the third win this year and a lifetime mark for Somoli E, a son of Mr Lavec, who is trained by Andrea Lapierre. He went off at odds of 8-1 and paid $19.40 to win.
The second division for trotting colts saw Monster Mass and driver Claude Larose lead from the start and score in a romp by five and one-quarter lengths in 2:05.1 over Jardinier (Marie Claude Auger) and De Pres Mirabel (Rosare Renald). The gelded son of Muscle Mass posted his third win this year for trainer Justin Blais, who is also the owner and co-breeder. He paid $4.30 to win.
The highest payoff of the series preliminary rounds Sunday was set in the second division for pacing fillies as Ladylyonne and Stephane Brosseau came from third over at the top of the stretch to win by a neck in 2:00.4 over My American Tallia (Stephane Gendron) with Thrill Chaser (Marie Claude Auger) third.
Sent off at odds of 24-1, Ladylyonne paid $51.70 to win in posting her maiden victory after 11 lifetime starts for trainer Dominc Gladu and co-owners Zephirin Lyonnais and Andre Grosso.
The first division saw C L Infinite and trainer/driver David Pilon close from fifth place at the top of the stretch and draw off to win by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:02.4. Pacesetter Night Fall (Stephane Gendron) was second with Tango Bayama (Rheo Filion) third.
It was the first win in five starts on the year for the daughter of Artistic Fella who was bred and is owned by Ecuries Leblanc, Inc. She paid $7.70 to win.
There was only one division of three-year-old trotting fillies with ten starters. Half of the field made breaks and after weaving her way around those horses, having started from post ten in the second tier, Viva Bayama blew away the entire field.
Trained and driven by Yves Filion, once he had clearance in the backstretch the second time, they sprinted to the outside, looped the field and then drew off to win by ten and one-quarter lengths in 2:04.3. SOS Striking Monte (Francine Morrissette) was second with Bambie Benjo (Rheo Filion) third.
It was the maiden victory in five lifetime starts for Viva Bayama, a daughter of Muscle Mass, who is owned and bred by the Filion’s Bayama Farms, Inc. She paid $3.20 to win.
Live racing resumes Tuesday evening at the Hippodrome 3R, first race post time is 7:00 pm. For more information visit their website at www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

What would it take to defeat Decret Justiciale at the Hippodrome 3R? The top trotter this season already had won five of his six starts going into Tuesdays feature race, so what would be needed to defeat this formidable foe?
How about tying the all age track record for trotters? That’s what it took and that is what Michelangelo and driver Denis St Pierre did Tuesday at the Hippodrome 3R.
The third race $6,000 featured trot saw Michelangelo and Pierre shoot right to the early lead and forcing Out Of The Hat (Stephane Pouliot) to take a back seat in the two-hole as they went by the opening quarter mile in :27.
Michelangelo was on top and no challengers as they sped by the half mile marker in :57 seconds. It was then that Whitewater Rapids (Guy Gagnon) started a slow march up to challenge first-over and by the three-quarters in 1:26.3 they had still not gained any real ground on race leader Michelangelo.
Even the race favorite Decret Justiciale and driver/trainer Denis Filion, after a quick three-wide move in the backstretch, was in good striking distance second-over, but with a two length lead starting down the stretch, no one was going to catch Michelangelo.
He went on to win by an easy four lengths. Out Of The Hat was able to hold on for second with Whitewater Rapids third and Decret Justiciale fourth.
Owned and trained by Chelsea Knapp of Brookville, ON, it was the ninth win this year for Michelangelo, a five-year-old gelded son of Angus Hall. His time of 1:56 now ties him with Pablo Angus, who first set the record back in 2008. Michelangelo paid $6.80 to win.
Jefferson Tare continued his winning ways with the longest consecutive win streak at Hippodrome 3R this season, winning the fifth race pace for his sixth straight win.
The three-old-old gelded son of Jereme’s Jet has been nearly unbeatable and on Tuesday he faced his toughest challenge yet from the pocket-sitting Gastineau and driver Marie Claude Auger.
Driver Pascal Berube left from post two with Jefferson Tare as Gastineau was content to take the two-hole trip behind them. Through fractions of :27.1, :57 and 1:27.2 they raced the same way as no one else in the field could keep up or offer a challenge.
Coming down the stretch was when Auger came out with Gastineau and sent his horse after Jefferson Tare but Berube got after his colt and despite a valiant effort by Gastineau, Jefferson Tare dug in late and held them off to win by a half-length in 1:57. Shanghai Ben (Peirre Luc Roy) was third by nine and one-quarter lengths.
Now 6 for 7 this season, it was a lifetime mark for Jefferson Tare, who is trained by Pierre Leclerc, who co-owns the colt with wife Gina. Jefferson Tare paid $2.30 to win.
Live racing resumes at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday with first race post time at 1:00 pm. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

Although the charted lines may show that he won by four and one-half lengths, it was certainly no easy task for Histoire Eternelle to post his fourth straight win at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday afternoon.
The five-year-old gelded son of Shanghai Phil and driver Marie Claude Auger had to do it the hard way, getting parked on the outside the entire one mile race, but they not only got the job done, but did it in impressive fashion.
Usually racing on the lead early on, Auger left from post seven in the eighth race feature but there was already two horses on the lead in the front of him. Jolts Prayer and driver Pascal Berube went to the early lead but then gave way to Walbert and driver Stephne Brosseau.
And it seemed that Brosseau and Walbert, did not want anyone else to pass them by, not even Histoire Eternelle. Past the opening quarter in :27.3, Histoire Eternelle was stuck on the outside. Then past the half mile marker in :57 and still Walbert was on the lead and Histoire Eternelle was parked first-over on the outside and that same at the three-quarters in 1:26.3.
Then the time to play games was over and on the final turn Auger and Histoire Eternelle were able to clear to the lead and then they opened up on the field to win going away in 1:56.1. Cevina De Chakrika (Melane Plourde) was second and Walbert held for third place.
It was the fifth win in nine starts for Histoire Eternelle who is trained by Eric Valiquette and is owned and bred by Guy Corbel of Maribel, QC. He paid $2.40 to win.
It was the second straight training win for Eric Valiquette, who in the prior seventh race, saw his Maxmuscle post his third straight win, leading from start to finish in 2:00.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

Thrill Chaser most certainly lived up to her name Tuesday evening at the Hippodrome 3R as the ably named filly gave harness racing fans a real thrill with her dramatic finish in the ninth race $3,600 pace.
Racing over a sloppy, rain-soaked track, the action started off with R L Play Boy (Mario Charron) going to the early lead with World News (Pascal Berube) leaving from post seven and getting the two-hole trip to the opening quarter mile in :30.1.
Then it was time for the 8/5 race favorite, Iron Phil, and driver Louis Philippe Roy coming first-over and taking command by the half mile maker in 1:02.
It was then that owner/trainer/driver Marie Claude Auger started up first-over with Thrill Chaser, who was one of only three females racing against six male rivals. As they raced down the backstretch, Auger rated Thrill Chaser and she worked her way up to the race leaders by the three-quarters in 1:34.3.
On the final turn, Thrill Chaser kept grinding it out on the outside against Iron Phil and collared him as they started down the stretch. Then the two horses, despite the inclement weather, locked horns, going neck and neck to the finish with Thrill Chaser winning by a head in 2:04 over Iron Phil with R L Play Boy, who had snuck up the passing lane, a close third.
It was the first win in four starts this year for Thrill Chaser. The daughter of Rambaran is co-owned by Auger with Gaston Bibeau of Quebec and paid $7.40 to win.
Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday with first race post time at 1:00 pm. For more information visit their website at www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

It took the very last harness race of the competition for Guy Gagnon to nip Sylvain Lacaille by one point, 68 to 67, to win the Quebec Eastern Regional Driving Championship Tuesday evening at the Hippodrome 3R.
Sylvain Lacaille actually had the lead going into the nine race, the last of eight championship division, 57-53 over Gagnon but it took a Hockey Bum to bring victory to Gagnon.
Hockey Bum, the race horse that is. Guy Gagnon’s last drive in the competition was aboard Hockey Bum from the rail and the betting favorite and Gagnon were perfect together. They left from the rail, gave perfect two-hole cover to Lacaille and Fire Luck, but in the end it was Gagnon that had the luck as they wired the field by a half length in 1:58. Lacaille was second.
But as the competition goes, both drivers, the top two point earnings in the championship, now move on to the finals that will be held on August 26 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park on PEI.
The series started off with Pascal Berube winning the first division with Androvers Touch ($3.60) in 2:01.3. Then Gagnon got into the hunt with his first win aboard Tommy Abe ($11.20) in a lifetime best of 2:01.2 in the second division.
Gagnon then looked like the early runaway winner in the competition as he won again in the third division, guiding Sophies Duke ($3.20) to a lifetime mark of 1:56.
Then it was Lacaille coming back in the fourth division, winning with Force Of Fire ($23.70) in 1:59. The fifth division was won by Lil Orphan Cam ($8.40) and driver Stephane Gendron as Lacaille was second drew a little closer in the point standings to Gagnon.
Then the tote board nearly exploded in the sixth division as Sylvain Lacaille not only won the race with Show Business in 1:58.3 to narrow the gap against Guy Gagnon, but they were not only the longest shot on the tote board in the race, but the highest payoff of the season at Hippodrome 3R, going off at odds of 97-1.
Show Business paid a whopping $197.30 to win in her first victory of the season in four starts. She was in the middle of the pack coming for home but with most of the horse fanning out for the drive home, Lacaille moving right up the passing lane for the upset score.
Then in the seventh division Guy Gagnon finished out of the money but Sylvain Lacaille did not and he took the lead in the series 57 to 53. Denis St. Pierre won the race with SOS Grappa ($7.60) in 1:56.4.
So it then came down to the final race and try as much a Lacaille did, they could not catch Guy Gagnon by the finish.
“I am very happy to represent my region at the National Championships,” said Guy Gagnon, “but I would like to thank all the owners of horses that have allowed us to participate in this event. We always have fun in any driver’s tournament.”
“Even though I finished second by a "nose",” said Sylvain Lacaille, “It is a great reward for me to go to Charlottetown. My early season was difficult, but here's a nice compensation.”
The overall winner of the Canadian Championship at Red Shores will then represent Canada in the World Driving Championship in Australia in 2015.
But the racing action was far from over after the competition was finished as in the last race on the program, a track record was set.
Starting from post five in the $6,000 feature trot, Margarita Bi, the only mare in the field against seven male rivals, and driver Denis St Pierre went right to the lead and never looked back.
They cut fractions of :29, :58 and 1:27.3 before winning by one and one-half lengths in 1:57.2. That time shattered the 2012 record of 1:59.1 that was held by Oh Sweet Baby.
It was the fourth win this year for Margarita Bi, a five-year-old mare by Andover Hall, who is trained by Tiffanee Staley and is owned by Denis St Pierre. She paid $14.40 to win.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

The action will be fast and furious on Tuesday night at the Hippodrome 3R as the track hosts the Quebec Eastern Regional Driving Championship. The competition will feature eight championship races starting in race two through race nine.
The top two finishers, based on points, will go on to compete in the National Driving Championship on August 26 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park.
Featured in the competition are Pascal Berube, Gord Brown, Mario Charron, Guy Gagnon, Jocelyn Gendron, Stephane Gendron, Sylvain Lacaille and Denis St Pierre.
If you follow just the morning line odds then it will be a four-way battle for the two spots as Pascal Berube, Sylvain Lacaille, Mario Charron and Guy Gagnon, are all major contenders. But, driving championships such as this are usually wide-open events and the driver you may least expect to do well can rise to the occasion and surprise everyone in the competition with a big night of racing.
The Regional Driving Championships and the National Driving Championship will adapt the point system utilized in the World Driving Championship. Points will be awarded on the order of finish as follows:
SCORING
Number of Starters 8:
15 (1), 10 (2), 7 (3), 5 (4), 4 (5), 3 (6), 2 (7), 1 (8).
Number of Starters 7:
14 (1), 9 (2), 6 (3), 4 (4), 3 (5), 2 (6), 1 (7).
• In the event of a horse being scratched or where no horse is available, five (5) points shall be awarded to the driver concerned. If a horse is disqualified or a horse and driver fail to complete the race, they will receive one (1) point.
• In the event of a scratch, the driving rep drawn to a horse shall drive the ‘also eligible’ horse.
• In the event of a dead heat for any placing in any race the points for the horses involved will be added together and divided equally among the drivers concerned (If there’s a dead heat for third between two horses, the points for third and fourth place will be added and divided among the drivers)
The live race program begins at 7:00 pm. For more information about Hippodrome 3R and the Quebec Jockey Club, visit their website at www.ontariojockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

For the third time this harness racing season the track record for pacers at one and one-sixteenth mile at the Hippodrome 3R has been tied and rewritten and once again it is a different horse setting the mark.
There has now been five track records either tied or set this season after just 11 race programs at Hippodrome 3R. Their half mile oval has been razor fast this meet.
Not only did San’s Frontiere and driver Marie Claude Auger set the record in the ninth race, but they also ended the five-race winning streak of former track record holder The Platinum Guy in the process.
The Platinum Guy had started off the season at Hippodrome 3R, setting the track mark at 2:04.4 back on May 20 for driver Stephen Gendron. The record was then tied last week by Adkins Hanover and has now been rewritten by one-fifth of a second by San’s Frontiere in 2:04.3.
It was Pan Larceny and driver Pierre Luc Roy who were first on the lead but pressured right away on the outside by Thebestofme and driver Mario Charron as they sped to the opening quarter mile in a quick :27.4.
Once settled on the lead, Thebestofme led the field past the half mile marker in :58.4 before Niceandup (Steeven Genios) started up first-over and gave outside cover to San’s Frontiere. They raced that way through the three-quarters in 1:28.
Then Auger sent San’s Frontiere to the lead by the top of the stretch with race favorite The Platinum Guy and driver Denis St Pierre hot on their heels but they could not catch San’s Frontiere as they went on to win by one length. Thebestofme was third.
It was just the second start this year and first win for San’s Frontiere. The seven-year-old mare by House of Fun is trained by Emile Auger and was bred and is owned by local resident Denis Auger of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. She paid $7.70 to win.
The two-year-old pari-mutuel race of the year took place Sunday in the first race with five trotters going to post.
William Star, a colt by Windsong Espoir, led at the start for owner/trainer/driver Jean Francois Magure through the opening quarter in :32.1 and the half in 1:05.2. Then the pocket-sitting Flexible and owner/trainer/driver Sylvain Fontaine pulled the pocket and took the lead on the outside before the three-quarters in 1:37.
They led until the top of the stretch when Magure came back with William Star and fought off the late charge of Promesses Imperial (Jerome Lombart) to win by a neck in 2:08.
William Star paid $10.80 to win.
Live racing resumes at Hippodrome 3R on Tuesday and featured will be one of the most exciting race cards of the season with the Eastern Ontario Regional Driving Championships.
In the competition are leading reinsman Pascal Berube, Gord Brown, Mario Charron, Guy Gagnon, Jocelyn Gendron, Stephane Gendron, Sylvain Lacaille and Denis St Pierre.
They will compete in eight races on the program and the top two finishers, based on points, will go on to compete in the National Driving Championship on August 26 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park.
For more information about the Hippodrome 3R visit their website at www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

The draw for the Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional Driving Championship scheduled for Tuesday, June 17 at Hippodrome 3R is now complete.
Post time for Tuesday’s card of racing is 7:00 p.m. The participating drivers are:
• Pascal Berube
• Gord Brown
• Mario Charron
• Guy Gagnon
• Jocelyn Gendron
• Stephane Gendron
• Sylvain Lacaille
• Denis St. Pierre
The RDC races are races 2 through 9. To view Tuesday’s entries, click on one of the following links:
Hippodrome 3R – Tuesday Entries – Tuesday program pages.
The top two finishers, based on points, will go on to compete in the National Driving Championship on August 26 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park.
The I Love Canadian Harness Racing will be offering an online Pick 8 Handicapping Challenge on the QEO Regional and it will open on Sunday. We’ll also have three astute handicappers give you their thoughts on how each driver will do.
The Regional Driving Championships and the National Driving Championship will adapt the point system utilized in the World Driving Championship. Points will be awarded on the order of finish as follows:
SCORING
Number of Starters 8:
15 (1), 10 (2), 7 (3), 5 (4), 4 (5), 3 (6), 2 (7), 1 (8).
Number of Starters 7:
14 (1), 9 (2), 6 (3), 4 (4), 3 (5), 2 (6), 1 (7).
• In the event of a horse being scratched or where no horse is available, five (5) points shall be awarded to the driver concerned. If a horse is disqualified or a horse and driver fail to complete the race, they will receive one (1) point.
• In the event of a scratch, the driving rep drawn to a horse shall drive the ‘also eligible’ horse.
• In the event of a dead heat for any placing in any race the points for the horses involved will be added together and divided equally among the drivers concerned (eg. If there’s a dead heat for third between two horses, the points for third and fourth place will be added and divided among the drivers)
From Quebec Jockey Club and Standardbred Canada

A seven-year-old track record was erased Tuesday at Hippodrome 3R when Whitewater Rapids romped to an easy victory in a $5,200 conditioned event for trotters.
Whitewater Rapids got away sixth and watched Easy Virtue and Prairie Big John take turns on the lead through fractions of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:27.3 before rushing to the front and drawing clear to win by 6-3/4 lengths in 1:57.1 for trainer/driver Guy Gagnon. Ghirardelli Lindy was a distant second, with Beer Maggs rounding out the top three.
The former mark of 1:58.3 for older trotting horses was set by Jason Will on September 5, 2006.
Ecuries Guy Gagnon owns the six-year-old son of Credit Winner-Rapid Rail, who improved this year’s record to 4-5-0 from just 15 trips to the track. The 11-time winner lifted his lifetime earnings to $240,493 with the win.
It was no easy task but Jefferson Tare and harness racing driver Pascal Berube made it four straight wins at Hippodrome 3R Tuesday in the colt’s toughest mile ever of his young career.
The second race pace was correct in making Jefferson Tare the race favorite, but not the way he did it.
Virginonthebeach and driver Guy Gagnon left out of the starting gate and right to the front with D G’s Justlikethat (Stephane Brosseau) in second with Jefferson Tare in fourth place as they raced to the opening quarter in :28.1.
Then Berube came out with Jefferson Tare but they were unable to get to the front by the half mile marker in :58.2. Berube tried again with Jefferson Tare going to the three-quarters, but Virginonthebeach and Gagnon would have nothing to do with that. Even with a half length lead by the three-quarters in 1:27.1, Jefferson Tare was only a half length in front and still parked out.
By the top of the stretch, Virginonthebeach could not stop Jefferson Tare, who took a one length lead and then had to face a new challenge from the pocket-setting D G’s Justlikethat. They came after the duo, but it was too little too late as Jefferson Tare dug in and pulled away for a one and three-quarter length triumph in 1:57.2. D G’s Justlikethat was second and Virginonthebeach held for third place.
Trained and co-owned by Pierre Leclerc with Gina Bragagnolo of Louiseville, QC, it was the fourth win in five career starts for the Jefferson Tare, a three-year-old gelded son of Jereme’s Jet. His time of 1:57.2 was a two second improvement off his winning time last week. He paid a generous $3.40 to win.
Jefferson Tare is now tied with Discret Justiciale as the only horses at Hippodrome 3R with four straight wins.
Live racing resumes on Sunday at Hippodrome 3R at 1:00 pm. For more information go to www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club

On Tuesday evening at the Hippodrome 3R Jefferson Tare will seek to become only the second horse this season to have scored four straight wins during the meet.
Only Decret Justiciale has accomplished that feat so far, scoring his fourth straight victory on Sunday at 3R, making a clean sweep of the Quebec-bred Series for older horses with an impressive 1:58.2 win in the $35,000 finale.
Jefferson Tare never raced at age 2 and now the three-year-old gelded son of Jereme’s Jet is making up for lost time for trainer and co-owner Pierre Leclerc of Louiseville, QC.
Starting from post two in the second race pace on Tuesday, Jefferson Tare will be driven by Pascal Berube and they are the 5/2 morning line favorite. In all three of his victories so far this year, Jefferson Tare has led from start to finish and last week scored a lifetime best 1:59.2 triumph.
His main competition will come from Super Deuce AM, who starts alongside Jefferson Tare in post position one. Super Deuce AM was second last week against Jefferson Tare. Other contenders include Virginonthebeach (post 4) and D G’s Justlikethat (post 5) who both have lost in recent weeks to Jefferson Tare.
This past Sunday the Hippodrome 3R’s race oval was in prime shape as was the competition. In two of the $35,000 finals of the Quebec-bred Series, the track record for Older Trotting and Pacing Mares were each missed by two fifth of a second.
The track record for the extra distance race at one and one-sixteenth mile was tied by the pacer Adkins Hanover ($4.50) in 2:04.4 on Sunday. Driven by Mario Charron, Adkins Hanover had led from start to finish and won by one length. The track record is now co-held with The Platinum Guy, set earlier this season on May 20.
For more information about the Hippodrome 3R visit their website at www.quebecjockeyclub.com. Live racing is every Sunday at 1:00 pm and Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm.
From the Quebec Jockey Club